Undecided, which Dr. do you recommend and why?

[JoanieW 13]

Hello,

I rarely post on forums, but I am in need of more information. I was banded in 07 and got my band due to slippage in 09. I was at 125lbs-my goal weight at the time, for several months. When I found out I was pregnant, I had a complete unfill, 5months of my pregnancy, I kept get food stuck, major heartburn and at the end of my pregnancy, I was lucky to be able to drink an 8 oz Protein shake in a day. I waited until I had my baby, I did not want to go to TJ while pregnant. The emergency rooms in CA just kept saying I was dehydrated and needed more magnesium/potassium. I gave up on ER after the 5th time. Everytime I spoke about the Lap Band, they looked clueless, and the Dr. would look into it, but had nothing to say. My OB was not worried as my baby was growing perfectly and I was overweight, so I those lbs lost was not a bad thing. After 6wks of having given birth, I went back to Dr. Ortiz's office to be told I still had liquid in the band, there was never any record that I had gone before my pregnancy to get unfilled. I have plane ticket receipts to prove it. Needless to say after the unfill, my band never readjusted and I had to get it removed. I was 125lbs and very weak. I was happy to be able to eat and drink once again. A yr and so later, here I am at 184lbs, feeling awful about myself. I wasn't able to keep it off, as I had promised myself I would.

I went into Dr. Ortiz's forum and saw he now offers the plication, which I had never heard of, but am researching on it. His office is more like a clinic and not a hospital. The people there are great, except for the Dr. that did not note my unfill and did not unfill me completely like I had asked. He is no longer there. I would consider going back there, but I would like an actual hospital setting, as this surgery is more complex then the band.

Can you tell me which Dr. you had surgery with, your experience, is it a hospital setting or at least close to one? How much did it cost? I am in the early stage of research, but I would like to get this surgery before April of 2011. Your help is greatly appreciated, if there is anything else that I should ask, please include it.

By the way, I live in SF-CA, but am willing to travel in the US or Mexico.

Thanks,

Motherof3

I chose Dr. Watkins and am glad I did. He does the surgery in a surgical center on the hospital campus, so I was very comfortable with that. The first thing he does when you are under, is uses an endoscope to look at your stomach. He looks for hiatal hernias and fixes those, so no more reflux. If there are any problems in your stomach, he won't do the surgery. It has been six months, and his office is still checking in on me. I think he's very thorough and really wants you to be successful. I had a lot of scar tissue from previous surgeries that he took out also. He spent a lot more time on me than the time he allotted for the surgery. I'm very happy with my decision.

[NtvTxn 1,262]

I highly recommend Dr. James Davidson in Dallas. I was self pay and all his self pay patients are treated at Forest Park Medical Center. It's like the medical equiv. of a Embassy Suites or Hyatt Regency, top notch treatment with a private room and private nurses! I'm not sure how many doctor's have their self pay patients there, but there are several. It's a very nice facility. Dr. Davidson is doing sleeve surgery for 12k, he repaired a hiatial hernia that I unknowingly had at no extra charge. A 'center of excellence' was important to me and Dr. Davidson has also been voted a "Top Doc" and named in 'D Magazine' for 17 years by his peers, which is a big deal in the DFW area. That is how I came across his name and narrowed down my search between him and a couple other area doctors. There are many good doctors.....I just wanted to throw another one into the mix.

[Sparky2901 0]

Hello

I had my lapband removed in May 2010, due to erosion, after 6 years of success. I had the Gastric Plication done by Dr. Lopez Corvala, in August 2010, in Tijuana. He is the only surgeon who is certified for this procedure. It is my understanding that other surgeons in Mexico who are doing this procedure have learned it from a video, not through another surgeon, and therefore are not certified.. Dr. Corvala works at the Hospitale Angeles, which is like walking into a 5 star resort. I am a nurse with 33 years experience, and this hospital and the care by doctors and nurses, was excellent. and above reproach. Dr. Corvala has being a bariatric surgeon for 25 years and has taught surgeons in the U.S. as well as Mexico, various bariatric procedures. Dr. Corvala has a full disciplinary team of doctors, such as psychologist, anaesthetist, and bariatric physicians and nutritionists. I highly recommend Dr. Corvala and his team.

Hello,

I rarely post on forums, but I am in need of more information. I was banded in 07 and got my band due to slippage in 09. I was at 125lbs-my goal weight at the time, for several months. When I found out I was pregnant, I had a complete unfill, 5months of my pregnancy, I kept get food stuck, major heartburn and at the end of my pregnancy, I was lucky to be able to drink an 8 oz Protein shake in a day. I waited until I had my baby, I did not want to go to TJ while pregnant. The emergency rooms in CA just kept saying I was dehydrated and needed more magnesium/potassium. I gave up on ER after the 5th time. Everytime I spoke about the Lap Band, they looked clueless, and the Dr. would look into it, but had nothing to say. My OB was not worried as my baby was growing perfectly and I was overweight, so I those lbs lost was not a bad thing. After 6wks of having given birth, I went back to Dr. Ortiz's office to be told I still had liquid in the band, there was never any record that I had gone before my pregnancy to get unfilled. I have plane ticket receipts to prove it. Needless to say after the unfill, my band never readjusted and I had to get it removed. I was 125lbs and very weak. I was happy to be able to eat and drink once again. A yr and so later, here I am at 184lbs, feeling awful about myself. I wasn't able to keep it off, as I had promised myself I would.

I went into Dr. Ortiz's forum and saw he now offers the plication, which I had never heard of, but am researching on it. His office is more like a clinic and not a hospital. The people there are great, except for the Dr. that did not note my unfill and did not unfill me completely like I had asked. He is no longer there. I would consider going back there, but I would like an actual hospital setting, as this surgery is more complex then the band.

Can you tell me which Dr. you had surgery with, your experience, is it a hospital setting or at least close to one? How much did it cost? I am in the early stage of research, but I would like to get this surgery before April of 2011. Your help is greatly appreciated, if there is anything else that I should ask, please include it.

By the way, I live in SF-CA, but am willing to travel in the US or Mexico.

Thanks,

Motherof3

[mellifrits 25]

TP My doctor, Dr. Jose Rodriguez uses the Endoflip. I have spoken to him a number of times and even have it in written communication. He says that the Endoflip is becoming a standard in GPS.

I second that

[WSU1377 0]

I'm with you on this decision, I have done extensive research and forum inquiry on the various WLS Dr's and surgeries available, I just scheduled my plication with Dr. Ortiz for Apr 4th,

I am now facing the challenge of how to tell my family and friends that I am going to Tijuana to have surgery! .

I am a 31yr male, bmi of 39.5; 283lbs, 5'11" with severe sleep apnea, ready to make a huge change in my life. My entire family is overweight and after my dad nearly had a heart attack at age 61, I want to be sure that I dont face a shortened life becuase my body doesnt metabolize food like skinnier people. I have many friends who eat far more and worse than I, and are "in shape" with no effort at all, its not fair!

I am interested to hear how everything goes for you with the OCC and Dr. Ortiz, please keep us updated on your journey.

I have been researching doctors for what seems like FOREVER (Watkins, Corvala, and Ortiz) and I think I have finally selected Ortiz. His facility has a higher rating of excellence than any of the other facilities (the same rating as UCLA and Stanford hospitals) and he has a ton of American accolades. I asked if he used the endoflip since I had seen all of this info on here about that tool, and he does not use the endoflip because it is not actually legal in Mexico yet. It is only allowed for trial purposes for a few doctors. Dr. Ortiz said that if he had really thought it was a better tool than the bougie he would have fought to participate in the trial.

After getting over the fact that yes I am actually having WLS and doing it in Mexico to boot I booked my surgery. February 15th! I am so freaking out now. Is that normal to freak once you've put your surgery on the books? All of these crazy thoughts keep going through my head. I have two little ones and just can't imagine having something happen, like I don't know....death. Sheesh, I am losing it.

[oliviam 3]

I'm with you on this decision, I have done extensive research and forum inquiry on the various WLS Dr's and surgeries available, I just scheduled my plication with Dr. Ortiz for Apr 4th,

I am now facing the challenge of how to tell my family and friends that I am going to Tijuana to have surgery! .

I am a 31yr male, bmi of 39.5; 283lbs, 5'11" with severe sleep apnea, ready to make a huge change in my life. My entire family is overweight and after my dad nearly had a heart attack at age 61, I want to be sure that I dont face a shortened life becuase my body doesnt metabolize food like skinnier people. I have many friends who eat far more and worse than I, and are "in shape" with no effort at all, its not fair!

I am interested to hear how everything goes for you with the OCC and Dr. Ortiz, please keep us updated on your journey.

How exciting WSU! I will be sure and post how it goes, I am really excited and have spoken with Dr. Ortiz several times with questions. So far he has been very forthcoming and informative.

[borderguy 9]

if you havent made a deposit, you might consider dr. abril and dr. ham in Mexicali, they pick you up at the airport too, and its only a 2 hour drive from SD. i say the drive is worth it if you getting good doctors, a great price and avoid the Tj violence possibility!!